Family Reunion

We were able to have an awesome little family reunion with Mike's mom's side of the family. We had Mike's parents, all but one of his siblings and their families his grandma (Mamal), his two aunts (Dottie & Janet), and cousins Debbie, Heidi, and Brenda and some of their family. It was so much fun. This was the first time I had met Dottie and Mamal. They are fantastic women. It was so wonderful getting to know them. Most time was spent hanging out and eating good food. We also were able to go to a old Ghost Town and Diamondbacks Ball Game. It was a awesome week.

Our Family with Mamal.

cuddling with Kaden, one of my favorite activities of the trip. It didn't happen enough!

Brooke and I pregnant together again! It was so great to see her, her kids, and her mom!

Dottie and Kylee & Linda and Payton

The group before the game.

Toni getting the crowd to start the wave. She was hilarious. She did get like a solid 4 sections going!

Mike and I having fun.

So much fun ... fun rises so its best to sit real high!

Thanks to all that came and made this trip!

Easter

We had a great Easter this year filled with lots of family since everyone was still here. The girls got to have an Easter egg hunt with their cousins at the Dilger's and got tons of fun stuff. Thanks Dannielle and Nikki for helping the Easter Bunny with all the eggs and candy. For some reason i cannot switch the order of the pictures so you are looking at them in the reverse order. Kylee with all her goods!

A whole lot of eggs.

Payton after sneaking a piece of chocolate.

Daddy and his girls.

Payton decided walking was too much work and drove to each egg and had daddy pick them up for her.

Payton on the hunt with Daddy.

All the kids waiting to get the eggs.

Kylee found her basket.

Payton enjoying her first peep! Delish!Probably my favorite picture of the day. Kylee looking the complete opposite way as her basket on the golf cart.

A Baptism and Blessing

We had an awesome opportunity to be able to be a part of Taylor Dilger and Kaden Mosley's special day! Taylor has turned 8 and decided to be baptised. We are so proud of her and thankful that she has been such an example to our girls. Kaden was able to be blessed as well. He is such a sweet baby. He didn't make a peep the whole time. Here is a picture of the group that was there.

Kylee and Payton loving Tay Tay in her beautiful white dress.

Kylee and Camryn

The Little Man in his blessing outfit.

(Nikki had her wedding dressed made into a beautiful blessing dress, boy's outfit, and blanket. Such a good idea and wonderful thing to have. Wish I had done it!)

Mamal and her Daughters

(Linda, Dottie, Janet, Mamal)

What a special day!

The lines dont lie!

We had our ultrasound appointment today and found out we will be having a healthy baby girl. As soon as the Dr. got a straight shot between the legs I saw the three lines and said "another girl". Dr confirmed and Mike smiled big. Mike is thrilled and so am I. Since Kylee didn't know yet we decided to take her to the appointment with us and let her see it for herself. A few days ago I showed her taught her about ultrasounds and showed her pictures. She saw the screen she pointed it out to Mike and I that there was an ultrasound machine in the Dr.'s office. Once the baby was on the screen I looked at her and said "mommy has a baby in her tummy." She had a huge grin on her face the whole time. Mike asked her if she knew and she claims she did. Ask her how she knows and she just smiles. On the ride home she decided the baby's name will be Jose. Half way through the day of her calling the baby that I informed her that Jose is a boys name. We have no names what so ever picked out so don't ask:)

Meet Sadie

We have added a new member to our family. An African spur-thigh tortoise, or sulcata. This is the 3rd largest tortoise breed. His name is Sadie. I know he has a girly name but thats because his original owners thought he was female. He is a smart guy and responds to me when I call his name so we cant really change it. He is has a lot of personality for a tortoise. He is about 6 years old and is now about 40 lbs and 18 inches long. He can get up to 150+ lbs and 24 inches wide. Mike and our awesome friend Greg put in sprinklers and laid sod for Sadie to graze on everyday. It is nice to have some grass for the girls to play on too. Thanks boys!

Knocking on the back door for someone to come out and hangout with him.

Yummm... collard greens!

His first day in the yard he took out my two hibiscus. He laid right on top of it and munched away!

p.s. Mike got him on craigslist for free! What a deal for such a great pet.

Long Time No Post

This last month our computer went kaput and we had to remove all our programs and files. So my pictures are not on this computer and I don't have the program I download pictures on to on here either. So no pics = no posts. I will hopefully get my pics soon. In the mean time here are some pics from my phone. Just a little sneak peak as to what is to come on future backdated posts.

Paci-Free

With help from my mom I finally found the courage to take Payton's pacifier away. She cries a little now but not for long. Hope it will get better.

* UPDATE: 3/30- Payton is doing great with out the pacifier. IF she cries she only does for a minute. When she is not tired she sings with her music or just talks to herself. She is a good kid.

Arizona Snow- ShowLow

Mike planned a fun family day trip to take the girls to see snow ... yes AZ has snow. We had such a great 24 hours. i love family time when cell phones have no service! No interruptions whatsoever. Mike got creative for a place for Kylee to sleep and made a "tent". He just hung a blanket from the clothes rack and Kylee still talks about it today. The little things.

Kylee showing Mike she could sleep in it.

Payton wishing she was aloud to sleep with her sister.

(every time we walked away she ran out and got in our bed.)

We didn't find too much snow and the snow we found was crappy but the girls didn't know any better so we enjoyed it anyways. Payton wasn't a big fan but I don't know if that was because of the snow or all the restrictive snow clothes. She didn't move well in all the warm padding.

Payton just not sure.

Kylee loving life!

(we borrowed her "boy that's a friend" warm clothes ... thanks Grant.)

I think it is nearly impossible to get a cute posed picture of kids. Here they are entertaining themselves while I am trying to get them to pose. I think I like this better.

Mike and Kylee trying out a make shift sled they found.

Mike to Payton the Party Pooper to the car and Kylee and I made a snowman and threw snow balls at dad. Crappy snow, crappy snowballs, freezing hands and bum = lots of fun!

It was a beautiful drive back. Here is one of the canyons we drove through. It is more beautiful in person.

What a wonderful day we had! Thanks dad!

Our Chicken Coop

Mike built an awesome coop and run for the chickens. I thankful he is so talented so we don't have a junk pile of wood for a coop on the side yard. Here are some pics of the process and finished product

Walls about to be nailed together.

Kylee helping mike caulk... by the way, this is the picture of Mike showing me how to caulk. I caulked that WHOLE thing!! Not that fun!

I did a lot of research for the best litter methods and where the roosts should be and how big the nesting boxes should be. I told Mike all the info and then he created. Behind the boards on the right are three nesting boxes. We didn't want to have them dirty for nothing since they wont be laying for a couple more months.

Our big helper during this project.

Then coop all painted and run enclosed.

Mike made one side with a storage shelf on top,

access to the nesting boxes/eggs in the middle,

and a storage drawer on bottom.

The ladies enjoying the coop.

Laying in the shade.

Thank you Mike for your hard work. I am so lucky to have you and your talents in our home!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Sisters & Best Friends

Kylee and Payton have really become the best of friends. Payton will do anything Kylee does and therefore Kylee is happy!